Further Reading

Earthlings, fasten your seatbelts. You’re in for a spectacular journey through spacetime.

More than 30 years since the original series, Cosmos will once again find its way into people’s homes, this time led by Neil deGrasse Tyson. The new series—called Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey—premieres this Sunday, March 9, at 9:00pm ET/PT on FOX.

The show will air in 45 languages across 123 FOX-branded channels in 125 countries and 90 National Geographic Channels in over 170 countries. According to the producer, this constitutes the largest-ever global launch for a television series. I don’t know about you, but the fact that the world’s largest TV series launch is for a science show is pretty exciting to me.

I had the opportunity to watch a preview copy of the first episode, “Standing Up in the Milky Way,” which was sent to me by National Geographic. If you’re wondering if you should tune into this show, then the answer is a resounding yes.

This is probably a good point to let you know that I never saw the original Cosmos series. In fact, I wasn’t even alive yet. Nor am I a space geek—while I enjoyed my childhood field trips to the planetarium, my interest stopped there. My first week as an intern at the American Geophysical Union, I attended a talk on dark matter and dark energy, and I sat there thinking, “WHOA! Mind. Blown,” the entire time because it was all so foreign to me. And while I have received many a review copy of shows from National Geographic, the honest truth is that although I have enjoyed the specials they’ve sent me, in most cases I haven’t gone on to watch the whole series. And yet, I plan to watch Cosmos in its entirety.

For those who have seen the original Cosmos, the series kicks off with a bit of nostalgia.“The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be. Come with me.” says Carl Sagan; then viewers are greeted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, standing on the same cliff Sagan did 30 years ago, welcoming us aboard our cosmic journey.

From the second Tyson’s ship of the imagination shoots off into space, prepare to be visually amazed. This series ranks right up there with Planet Earth in the eye-candy department. I found the transitions to be exceptional—a crater transforms into an eye's pupil, and dandelion fuzz morphs into a satellite, drawing the connection between the far-off and the earth-bound.

As Tyson talks about how wandering bands of hunters and gatherers found their way to the stars, I am reminded of Epcot’s Spaceship Earth ride. From the outset, you start to get the full taste of the series' visuals—a combination of live-action, high-tech effects and old-timey animations that look like the pages of a children’s book come to life. This baby is begging for an IMAX screen.

Video courtesy of Cosmos.

One of the greatest visualizations (and analogies) in the show is the cosmic calendar—where all of cosmic time is compressed into a single calendar year. This approach really puts into context how brief human history is and how small we really are. It’s an interesting shift in perspective. The very last second of the cosmic calendar is when we began to use science to reveal nature’s secrets and her laws. When you think about it that way, it’s pretty amazing what we’ve already learned and how much we can continue to learn.

Video courtesy of Cosmos.

Tyson points out that the scientific method is so powerful, that in a mere four centuries it has taken us from Galileo’s first look through a telescope at another world, to leaving our footprints on the Moon. It’s this positive message about science that I think is Cosmos’ greatest achievement. Sagan may have been a pioneer of communicating science to the public, but Tyson continues the legacy. It’s a passing of the torch.

Nothing brings this full-circle more than Tyson showing his own name written in the December 20, 1975 entry of Sagan’s day planner. At the time, Tyson was just a 17-year-old kid from the Bronx with dreams of becoming a scientist—but the world’s most famous astronomer was willing to meet with him and spend the day showing him around Cornell University. Now he’s the one in Sagan’s shoes, inspiring the next generation of kids, showing them that it doesn’t matter what you look like or where you come from—all you need is the ability to question everything.

I rarely watch TV live, since I use my DVR for everything. But this one will be an exception. Sagan's Cosmos holds a special place in my childhood, and it will be great to capture the childlike wonder I had when I saw the spectacle of it as an eleven year old.

One of the greatest visualizations (and analogies) in the show is the cosmic calendar—where all of cosmic time is compressed into a single calendar year. This approach really puts into context how brief human history is and how small we really are. It’s an interesting shift in perspective.

Quote:

Tyson points out that the scientific method is so powerful, that in a mere four centuries it has taken us from Galileo’s first look through a telescope at another world, to leaving our footprints on the Moon. It’s this positive message about science that I think is Cosmos’ greatest achievement.

Too bad we live in an environment (in the US) where discord about science, and not this sort of positivity, is the rule of the day.

This might be the wrong thread in which to ask this, but I'm not sure where else would be more appropriate.

I think the "Cosmic Calendar" is a great idea for bringing the scope of deep time to history as we know it, but is there some version of this concept that uses the "end" of the universe as an final date, with heat death as midnight, December 31st? Or are estimations in deep time of such a far future going to end up having the current moment something absurd like the first fraction of a second on January 1st?

Nothing brings this full-circle more than Tyson showing his own name written in the December 20, 1975 entry of Sagan’s day planner. At the time, Tyson was just a 17-year-old kid from the Bronx with dreams of becoming a scientist—but the world’s most famous astronomer was willing to meet with him and spend the day showing him around Cornell University. Now he’s the one in Sagan’s shoes...

Nothing brings this full-circle more than Tyson showing his own name written in the December 20, 1975 entry of Sagan’s day planner. At the time, Tyson was just a 17-year-old kid from the Bronx with dreams of becoming a scientist—but the world’s most famous astronomer was willing to meet with him and spend the day showing him around Cornell University. Now he’s the one in Sagan’s shoes...

Fox? So they will air the episodes out of order, then move the show to a timeslot competing against some really popular show on another network, and then cancel the show after 13 episodes?

It's a 13 episode show. There's nothing to cancel.

If you don't recognize a reference or a joke just move on. I'm sure there will be something in the comments you'll actually get.

I still don't get the reference, but that's ok - I figure sometimes it's better to be left in the dark (especially if Fox is involved somehow).

Firefly. It's a reference to Firefly.

Quote:

I think the "Cosmic Calendar" is a great idea for bringing the scope of deep time to history as we know it, but is there some version of this concept that uses the "end" of the universe as an final date, with heat death as midnight, December 31st? Or are estimations in deep time of such a far future going to end up having the current moment something absurd like the first fraction of a second on January 1st?

No, we don't. We're still not exactly what will happen to the universe in the far future.

Going up against some heavy hitters. The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones both air Sundays at 9, kinda curious to see how it stacks up to them (shouldn't have too much trouble passing them since it's on Fox, just thinking out loud).

Going up against some heavy hitters. The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones both air Sundays at 9, kinda curious to see how it stacks up to them (shouldn't have too much trouble passing them since it's on Fox, just thinking out loud).

Honestly I think people might be getting tired of these downer shows and are hungry for something substantial that will leave them filled with awe.

Besides its not like they would miss anything. Spoiler alert, someone dies in those shows.

Fox? So they will air the episodes out of order, then move the show to a timeslot competing against some really popular show on another network, and then cancel the show after 13 episodes?

It's a 13 episode show. There's nothing to cancel.

If you don't recognize a reference or a joke just move on. I'm sure there will be something in the comments you'll actually get.

I still don't get the reference, but that's ok - I figure sometimes it's better to be left in the dark (especially if Fox is involved somehow).

Firefly. It's a reference to Firefly.

A tired one at that. And inaccurate. Fox has let some really marginal shows attempt to get their feet under them with a second season over the past several years (Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse, etc).

The real question is whether this will do well enough to warrant a second season. Ever since History's The Universe went off air I've been wanting a new show like this. There may be nothing new but a new presentation of the old knowledge is still great. Looking forward to it.

Fox? So they will air the episodes out of order, then move the show to a timeslot competing against some really popular show on another network, and then cancel the show after 13 episodes?

It's a 13 episode show. There's nothing to cancel.

If you don't recognize a reference or a joke just move on. I'm sure there will be something in the comments you'll actually get.

I still don't get the reference, but that's ok - I figure sometimes it's better to be left in the dark (especially if Fox is involved somehow).

Firefly. It's a reference to Firefly.

A tired one at that. And inaccurate. Fox has let some really marginal shows attempt to get their feet under them with a second season over the past several years (Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse, etc).

The real question is whether this will do well enough to warrant a second season. Ever since History's The Universe went off air I've been wanting a new show like this. There may be nothing new but a new presentation of the old knowledge is still great. Looking forward to it.

I expect that they pitched Cosmos as a one off like its predecessor. A one time event to recreate the magic of the first Cosmos.

edit: and its a pretty accurate Firefly reference. From the very first episode they were played out of order, the time slot was changed multiple times, and to be honest it seemed like Fox Entertainment was trying to kill it. I don't disagree with the other shows you mentioned, but I think Firefly could have been a really epic series if it had additional years of writing and growth.

I wish it were on a little earlier, or on Saturday. 9:00 on a sunday is too late for my 6 year old, and im sure he would probably love it.

Honestly I'd say let him stay up to watch the premier, unless of course he physically couldn't stay awake, but given that it would be fine on a Saturday I'm assuming it's because he has school the next day. It will help to underscore the importance of science and learning. Most kids his age think staying up late is a big deal and so when they can they associate the activity that they were allowed to stay up late for with importance or "cool-ness". And what's the worst that happens, he performs poorly at school for a single day? If I had a child I'd trade a single day of his schooling for a chance at nurturing a lifelong love of science and it's methodologies.

This might be the wrong thread in which to ask this, but I'm not sure where else would be more appropriate.

I think the "Cosmic Calendar" is a great idea for bringing the scope of deep time to history as we know it, but is there some version of this concept that uses the "end" of the universe as an final date, with heat death as midnight, December 31st? Or are estimations in deep time of such a far future going to end up having the current moment something absurd like the first fraction of a second on January 1st?

In the models where the universe keeps expanding and eventually arrives at heat death (i am not a physicist but I think this is the prevailing model these days?), yes everything on that cosmic calender would get compressed into the first fraction of a second.

I think the "Cosmic Calendar" is a great idea for bringing the scope of deep time to history as we know it, but is there some version of this concept that uses the "end" of the universe as an final date, with heat death as midnight, December 31st? Or are estimations in deep time of such a far future going to end up having the current moment something absurd like the first fraction of a second on January 1st?

I had a similar thought.

Quote:

One of the greatest visualizations (and analogies) in the show is the cosmic calendar—where all of cosmic time is compressed into a single calendar year. This approach really puts into context how brief human history is and how small we really are. It’s an interesting shift in perspective. The very last second of the cosmic calendar is when we began to use science to reveal nature’s secrets and her laws.

The phrase "all of cosmic time" leads me to think of the end of December 31 as the end of time. In rough order of magnitude, if all of time is mapped to a one year calendar, and we're in the last second of Dec 31, that means time ends in less than 500 years.

If that's the case, forget missions to Mars and the like. We should be devoting our scientific research budgets to Galactus-type technology for surviving the end of the universe.

Unless the author means "all of cosmic time up to the present," but surely that would been written in that case.

I wish it were on a little earlier, or on Saturday. 9:00 on a sunday is too late for my 6 year old, and im sure he would probably love it.

Honestly I'd say let him stay up to watch the premier, unless of course he physically couldn't stay awake, but given that it would be fine on a Saturday I'm assuming it's because he has school the next day. It will help to underscore the importance of science and learning. Most kids his age think staying up late is a big deal and so when they can they associate the activity that they were allowed to stay up late for with importance or "cool-ness". And what's the worst that happens, he performs poorly at school for a single day? If I had a child I'd trade a single day of his schooling for a chance at nurturing a lifelong love of science and it's methodologies.

yeah but hes miserable without a full 9.5-10 hours sleep. Holy crap that kids gets a lot of sleep.

Its more of a hard to get up in the morning and we have a small timeframe for interuptions for workdays(given mom and dad also have a hard time getting out of bed in the mornings).

This might be the wrong thread in which to ask this, but I'm not sure where else would be more appropriate.

I think the "Cosmic Calendar" is a great idea for bringing the scope of deep time to history as we know it, but is there some version of this concept that uses the "end" of the universe as an final date, with heat death as midnight, December 31st? Or are estimations in deep time of such a far future going to end up having the current moment something absurd like the first fraction of a second on January 1st?

edit: and its a pretty accurate Firefly reference. From the very first episode they were played out of order, the time slot was changed multiple times, and to be honest it seemed like Fox Entertainment was trying to kill it. I don't disagree with the other shows you mentioned, but I think Firefly could have been a really epic series if it had additional years of writing and growth.

Agree.

But we're looking at it from the POV of fans of the genre. The people at Fox news doubtless wanted something in it's slot that would appeal to a much greater audience than they thought they could reach with Firefly. I disagree, again, but I try to see both sides of the matter. Either way, it's gone and not coming back.

I wish it were on a little earlier, or on Saturday. 9:00 on a sunday is too late for my 6 year old, and im sure he would probably love it.

Honestly I'd say let him stay up to watch the premier, unless of course he physically couldn't stay awake, but given that it would be fine on a Saturday I'm assuming it's because he has school the next day. It will help to underscore the importance of science and learning. Most kids his age think staying up late is a big deal and so when they can they associate the activity that they were allowed to stay up late for with importance or "cool-ness". And what's the worst that happens, he performs poorly at school for a single day? If I had a child I'd trade a single day of his schooling for a chance at nurturing a lifelong love of science and it's methodologies.

yeah but hes miserable without a full 9.5-10 hours sleep. Holy crap that kids gets a lot of sleep.

Its more of a hard to get up in the morning and we have a small timeframe for interuptions for workdays(given mom and dad also have a hard time getting out of bed in the mornings).

I have the PlayOn app thru my Roku box and I checked last night. It seems it will be available to watch on the Fox website, since that's how the PlayOn app gets it's information.

edit: and its a pretty accurate Firefly reference. From the very first episode they were played out of order, the time slot was changed multiple times, and to be honest it seemed like Fox Entertainment was trying to kill it. I don't disagree with the other shows you mentioned, but I think Firefly could have been a really epic series if it had additional years of writing and growth.

I rarely watch TV live, since I use my DVR for everything. But this one will be an exception. Sagan's Cosmos holds a special place in my childhood, and it will be great to capture the childlike wonder I had when I saw the spectacle of it as an eleven year old.

Allie Wilkinson / Allie is a freelance contributor to Ars Technica. She received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Eckerd College and a Certificate in Conservation Biology from Columbia University's Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability.